Silk is a natural protein fiber that
can be woven into textiles.
It is obtained from the cocoon of silkworm larvae reared
in captivity (sericulture).
The process of harvesting the silk from the cocoon kills the larvae. The
shimmering appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fibers' triangular prism-like
structure, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different
angles.

Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China , with some of the earliest examples discovered as early on as 3500 BC. Legend gives credit for developing silk the a Chinese empress, Lei Zu (Hsi-Ling-Shih, Lei-Tzu). Silks were originally reserved for the Kings of China for their own use and gifts to others, but spread gradually through Chinese culture and trade both geographically and socially, and then to many regions of Asia. Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants because of its texture and luster.